1974 Honda CB550 Four test ride by JR

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[@PongbyAtari]

I'm going to be 59 in a few weeks these bikes you folks save really bring back so many great memories. It really warms my heart to see you preserving motorcycle history thanks for all you do.

[@phoenixarizona8441]

I'll take a older sport bike over a newer one any day

[@recyclebills]

My first bike was a brand new 1974 CB550 Four. Put it through hell, best motorcycle I ever owned, faster than CB750s on top end, smoothest engine of any motorcycle ever made. It would turn 11,500 RPM stock before floating the valves, after some modifications, bigger cam, and heavier valve springs it floated valves at 14,500 RPM. And I was 18 years old and fool enough to wind it out. Wish I still had it.

[@johnkendall6962]

I owned a new one in 1976 Great bike and because I weighted 135 socking wet I had the same performance as my friends bigger CB 750s I sold it in 1979 when I was getting married. In hind sight I should have kept the bike and ditched the marriage. Live and learn.

[@TheAllenFamily92]

Ain't that the truth

[@jimfitzsimmons9897]

I learned to ride on a 73 CB350F. Really enjoyed that bike. This brings back memories.

[@ericrouse6458]

I have 3 a 74k/ 75SS & 76K My Favorite bike to ride around.

[@OccultEngineering]

Right on ☺️👌 my very first bike (at 15 years old) was a '78 cb550k with the 4 into 4 pipes. Really miss that beast!

[@paulgrogan8032]

Wow...I cant illustrate how rare it is to find one of these this minty fresh where even the cocktail shaker mufflers are there and mint👏👏👏

[@mindspinn311]

I love it even with the high bars. I’d ride this every day if I owned it!

[@vivjames1357]

Believe it was either a 78 or 79 year 550 four supersport that I had the pleasure of owning around 1986, absolutely amazing bike, so balanced in every aspect for the time, having also owned a number of cb750 fours during my youth also, I definitely consider the 550 four, far better than the 750, in every aspect, from performance to handling, it was just far more refined imo, the only issue I encountered, as it was my daily commuter vehicle, come rain or shine, was terrible misfires during wet weather, I finally tracked down the issue, to water collecting in the recess of the heads, around the sparkplugs, my 1986 fix for this was to fit old car coil rubber sleeves onto the ht leads, thereby directing the water running down the ht leads, out past the plug areas of the heads, and solving the misfires caused by the arching, so if anyone encounters such an issue, that's one way to solve it, it's great to see these amazing machines from my past, being cared for and restored 😀

[@daveco1270]

Great bike. Those handlebars are ridiculous though. Gotta love the 70's... those are the handlebar version of bell bottom pants. Luckily it's an easy fix. : ) I bought a 1975 Honda CB750K so I could teach myself motorcycle maintenance. I've been having a blast with that bike...and I've learned a lot. Honda's are easy to work on and the parts are easily available.

[@huskypoop4917]

that's one of the sweetist 550 s we ever seen it looks brand new

[@rpm2dayg648]

Orange 1974 with a Hooker reverse cone megaphone 4 into one header. Logged over 40k miles camping all over California and Oregon in the 70's. Great first bike.

[@MetalOxy]

Awesome bike, great work. Thanks for the video!

[@kk2into194]

That exhaust note is FIRE!!!!!

[@noahlindsey5100]

Pure Honda quality right there!😎👍🇺🇸

[@jamesnasium4688]

Nice Job, JR. !!

[@jimmyguenza3767]

Hey Ken you are sounding alot like someone we all know ....... i mean this as a compliment sinserely ! Way to go Jr. !!!!

[@tommybritton9273]

Nice bike guys 👍and some beautiful scenery up there where you're at..

[@floorwall247]

Makes me so excited to get my great grandfather's up and running. Hardly any work needed too

[@54macdog]

Great bike; great test.

[@pbmachines972]

That thing’s killer👌

[@gregm1621]

Absolutely beautiful!!!!

[@AJ-ec5dg]

Literally just bought that exact bike, color and all. Mines a ‘75

[@manelew7482]

So fresh, So clean. 😁🤙

[@bryanrose4850]

1974 my birth year cool bike

[@slidersgliders5516]

Love that old bike . I have a few Honda trail 90,s

[@Johnnywhamo]

This was the first bike I ever owned....next was 1979 RD 400 Daytona Special ..BIG difference:) Just the same that 550 was a great bike....until I took into the side of a car doing about 50mph.

[@garrettparker8223]

Nice bike

[@jbkstafford]

Best bike I had was a 74 550/4. Bought in 1979 to replace a CB350 and had for a few years before responsibilities meant those days were behind me. But still love these Hondas. I'd love to pick one up again but the prices here in Australia are huge.

[@andrewwoodward6560]

Really want a Honda four, someday . ✌️

[@korbendallas9317]

Man o man, She's a beaut. I love the color

[@owenjones506]

I have built a couple of these , the biggest problem with them is that hydrodrive chain connecting the crank to the gear box can chew through through he oil feed at the bottom of the crank causing it to lack feed to the crank shaft , so be aware , apart from that they are amazing bike !

[@seather863]

Nice everyday driver right there.

[@rasmichael]

Ah! That was the last bike I owned. Mine had a four-in-one exhaust though.

[@bigrobnz]

my brother"s first bike was a 550/4....back in the 70"s.......always an under-rated bike because of it"s big brother.......

[@HULKMAN3280]

Nice !

[@ImranKhanae]

Gorgeous ♥

[@limel6214]

jus pulled one of these out of my grandpas garage as well as a cb350

[@carlgilmore9821]

It's even still got the annoying turn signal buzzer! That was the first thing I took off my 74 CB750K4. May still have the damn thing somewhere in my shop.

[@guramann]

very good!! Where are you made this mirror?

[@jamesfinch1859]

I have a 74 with 74k starts up with a hit of the button fun bike

[@billwood1372]

Got to put the stock bars back on it would look way better

[@Mr.M1STER]

That's a beautiful area you live in. The bike is beautiful too although I am not a fan of the handlebars.

[@robsonfranciscogalvao5627]

Beautifull. .motorcycle. ..showww

[@Soundsantara]

Nice bike. Clean engine. Btw this is recorded at high frame rate right. 120fps at least I guess. What camera man btw?

[@a1081042]

I remember when those were new.

[@user-yz7zu9vw4j]

The year I was born.

[@bryanrose4850]

Good year

[@davidefland1985]

The pblm with the old SOHC 750 fours were concentric carbs. It was slow to pick up. I bought an early 80’s 750 it had DOHC and constant volocity carbs. Much faster instant response.

[@RAF122s]

This still for sale and how much if so? Thanks! David

[@LifeWithJake802]

What tye of gas are you running? And what do I do if it keeps bogging out when i go to ride after about 5mins

[@ropeyzkittlez9703]

is that what those yellow marks are? was wondering thought maybe a used set of carbs now i know theyve never even been touched lol

[@kk2into194]

Dig that Kawi green hog in the back round.

[@shegun]

I'm considering a 1976 Honda cb500f, do you know if there's much difference?

[@chui1976]

That is Koji Kabuto's bike in Mazinger Z anime

[@miniaturemachinist6098]

Original cb's look so much better than cafe races, it's nice to see a video of one that hasn't been mutilated by the cafe fad.

[@ecirlos4902]

I agree. Can’t understand why this beauties are modified to cafe racer. They destroy a legend.

[@happytimesagain3458]

Great bike Showing!!! You should do more and let your Dad go on Vacation!!

[@KaplanCycles]

Yea!!

[@DanhNguyen-xq5tk]

Good for Cafe Racer project bike....

[@dago_0730]

Whoever swapped the stock handlebars with these should be trialed and sent to jail

[@getoffmygrass6974]

Cherry

[@korymanuel6759]

First

[@RahmanRudianto]

So strange

[@onetakeadventureswithjoeld4679]

BAD ASS ! In the day , My ride kzbin.info/www/bejne/nprRmqR5eJuEa6c

[@MrMonty414]

Shorts, t shirt and sneakers. Lost me in the first minute.

[@KaplanCycles]

be happy to lose you forever, we wont miss you a bit lol

[@bobmcbob9603]

Nice bike